n.
- a small, rounded, compressed mass of a substance.
▸a small mass of bones and feathers regurgitated by a bird of prey.
- a piece of small shot or other lightweight bullet.
v.
(pellets, pelleting, pelleted)
- form into pellets.
- hit with or as if with pellets.
Derivative
- pelletize
or pelletise v.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. pelote ‘metal ball’, from a dimin. of L. pila ‘ball’.